“Laura, it’s good to see you,” Hornbeck said.
She shook his hand. “The pleasure is mine, Senator.”
“The senator was just telling me there seems to be some mix-up with the Archives ceremony,” said Resha.
Laura feigned surprise. “Oh? Is there something I can do?” Be careful, Resha. Rhys doesn’t want him interfering, she sent.
Hornbeck flashed a thin, cold smile. “My request for Tylo Blume to be on the program seems to have been misplaced.”
Laura nodded. “Oh, I see. Security concerns forced us to curtail the ceremony, Senator. It was decided to limit the number of speakers.”
Hornbeck pursed his lips sagely in the way authority figures do when they want to appear to be listening, but will have none of what they’re hearing. “Blume’s firm has done an enormous job.”
“Yes, the Guild has been very impressed with Triad.”
“I think they’ve earned a place at the podium. The work they’ve done coordinating the concerns of everyone is a fine example of the unity we’re trying to promote between the human and the fey,” he said.
Laura smiled to appear agreeable but had no intention of changing her mind. “I couldn’t agree more that projecting the right image is important. I think the feeling, Senator, was that it wasn’t a political event and that the historical nature of the relationships would be emphasized.”
Hornbeck leaned back in his chair in a staged relaxed pose. “I am a keen student of the history of human-fey relations, Laura,” Hornbeck said.
She nodded again. “I know, Senator. The Guild and the Archives have been flattered by the amount of attention the ceremony is receiving from interested parties.”
“Is the program so very tight?” Resha said.
Laura forced herself to look regretful instead of murderous. “I’m afraid so, Resha. We tried to accommodate everyone, but you know how these things go.”
“Yes, I do,” said Hornbeck. “You might reconsider, though. As an elf with connections to the Teutonic court, Blume will only add to the breadth of voices speaking. I am well aware of the delicate tensions between the Celtic and Teutonic fey.”
She marveled at the insinuation that his request would ease tension among the fey. Twenty years in the Senate earned arrogance points, she thought. “Yes, always a concern for the Guild. We prefer to handle such things as an internal matter.”
Be careful how you speak to him! an alarmed Resha sent.
I know what I’m doing, Resha, she sent. Unlike you, she didn’t add.
“We need to reach out to everyone we can to encourage cooperation, Laura. Even more so now, in these times of increased fey-related terrorist activity,” he said.
Laura compressed her lips. “Senator, you know every culture has its malcontents. This ceremony is about celebrating an alliance of cultures and its success. The Archives and the Guild want the focus to be on the documents and what they’ve achieved. Perhaps the Guild would be willing to develop a symposium to address the important issues you continue to raise?” Back me up here, Resha, she sent.
Resha startled as if he had dozed off. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. We could even bring representatives from the other Guildhouses to broaden the perspective.”
She didn’t love the idea, but getting the other Guildmas ters to participate would drive Resha to distraction, which Laura wouldn’t mind. She infused her face with animated excitement. “I like that. It would be a great opportunity to move beyond the problems and look to the future.”
“I agree,” said Hornbeck, “And the ceremony will be a perfect moment to announce the idea.” He gathered his papers. “Send my office a revised schedule, Laura. I will defer to Orrin Rhys’s decision as to when on the program Blume will speak.”
Laura clenched her jaw. “I’ll have to coordinate this with the committee, Senator. At such short notice…”
He cut her off. “At such short notice, I’m sure Blume will have a speech written and prepared. I suggest the planning committee move quickly, too. It was a pleasure speaking with you as always, Laura.”
Without waiting for a response, he lifted his briefcase and walked away. Laura retained her composure. “This is a problem, Resha.”
“I don’t understand your resistance,” he said.
“It’s not just me, Resha. Rhys doesn’t want him there. Hornbeck would like nothing better than to hijack the ceremony for his own agenda. Don’t think it’s a coincidence that a U.S. senator is supporting a highly connected elven businessman. The U.S. wants to keep the Consortium as happy as the Guild.”
“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing, playing them against each other?” he asked.
She glared at him. “Of course, Resha. And a Guild director shouldn’t be trying to level the playing field for the other side.”
Her tone wounded him more than she intended. Resha remained popular among the solitary fey because of his desire to treat everyone fairly, which was why they voted for him as their director on the Guild board so often. That attribute, though, often made him a lousy politician in Washington. Laura took a deep breath and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Resha. I know that sounded cynical, but I’m trying to honor Rhys’s wishes. I’ll talk to him.”
Resha nodded. “Yes, well, I didn’t think offering to let Blume speak would be such a problem. I suppose the Guildmaster will have a real reason to be angry with me now.”
Curious, Laura tilted her head. “Rhys is angry with you?”
He sighed. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard. I admired the humidor in his office not long ago. Apparently, it went missing, and Orrin thinks I took it.”
The idea was so absurd, Laura chuckled. “Did you?”
Equally amused, Resha shook his head. “No. He’s embarrassed me terribly. I hope my little faux pas here won’t make things uncomfortable for him.”
Laura’s jaw dropped. The emotional resonance in his voice was clear. “Resha! You did this on purpose.”
He grinned, for once the natural predatory appearance of a merrow conveying his intent. “Oh, let’s not speak of this anymore. I think Hornbeck has wasted enough of our time. I have a car waiting. Do you need a lift?”
Laura gave his arm a quick squeeze. “I’m all set, thanks. Nicely played, Resha. You’ve given me a headache, but nicely played.”
She shook her head as he sauntered down the aisle. She caught sight of Hornbeck talking to Tylo Blume at the side of the room. As Laura Blackstone, she had not met Blume in person and had no desire to. She casually mingled with the crowd leaving the room to avoid being seen.
Simultaneously, she watched in her peripheral vision as Sinclair angled along the side of the room toward the door. They made eye contact, and a small smile slipped onto his face before he nonchalantly looked away. She smiled when he wasn’t looking. The man was flirting with her and, if she wasn’t mistaken, he was timing his exit to coincide with hers. It had been a long time since someone whom she didn’t find annoying acted like that around her. She slowed her pace to see if he intended to say anything.
She wanted to kick herself when she sensed the elven essence coming up behind her. By letting Sinclair distract her, she had fumbled her escape from the room.
“Ms. Blackstone?” Tylo Blume said to her back.
She turned nonchalantly. “Mr. Blume, it’s nice to finally meet you. I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation with the senator.”
Blume’s eyes glittered like sapphire crystals. “I wanted to introduce myself and tell you how honored I am that the Guild chose Triad for the Archives project.”